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wm ^ a
$yfib 05TM9ME PUBLIC LttlRASPf
IUU 'iif/lflfril
SERVING BETHPAGE, ISLAND TREES, OLD BETHPAGE, PLAINVIEW, SEAFORD AND PLAINEDGE
VOL 41 NO. 46 December 5-11,2003 FORTY CENTS
Golden Eagles are L.I. Champs Again!
For the second consecutive year
the Bethpage High School Golden
Eagles are Long Island Class III
champions after defeating
Huntington 18-7 on a cold and
blustery Saturday afternoon at
LaValle Stadium on the campus of
Stony Brook University. The Golden
Eagles endured difficult weather
conditions and injuries to some key
players en route to their fifth Long
Island Championship in seven
appearances since the title game
began more than a decade ago.
The Golden Eagles overcame
the loss of starters Derek Ifasi and
Anthony Seiter to stave off a tough
challenge from the Huntington Blue
Devils. Huntington led off the game
with a long drive that resulted in no
points. After impressive stops on
the goal line by the Bethpage
defense, Huntington appeared to
have scored a fourth down
touchdown. But a penalty negated
the score and Huntington elected to
kick a field goal into the swirling
wind, which they missed. Bethpage
quickly seized the momentum. They
took leads of 6-0, then later 12-0,
thanks to impressive touchdown
runs by Jordan Levine. The latter
score went for 80 yards, tying a
Long Island championship record.
However, Huntington came out
in the second half much the way
they started the game off: with a
long drive toward the end zone. This
time, they would score, on a 19-yard
touchdown run by Pierre Delva,
cutting the Bethpage lead to 12-7
following the successful extra point
kick. It would be the last score for
Huntington, as the Bethpage
defense dug down deep. With time
running down in the fourth quarter
and Huntington driving toward the
Bethpage goal, the Golden Eagles'
Pete Manetta recovered a Blue
Devils' fumble, thwarting one drive.
Then, on their next possession,
pinned deep in their own zone, the
Blue Devils were stopped on a
fourth down play to give Bethpage
prime field position to put the game
away. They didn't disappoint, as
Rich Festante barreled into the end
zone on a 21-yard touchdown run to
seal the victory.
In addition to this being the
Golden Eagle's fifth Long Island
championship, the team won its
13th Nassau Class III championship
by defeating Wantagh 47-20 a week
earlier. The team has also won three
Rutgers Cup as the best team in
Nassau and 30 season or
conference titles. They compiled 10
undefeated seasons, 15 with just
one loss, and is in the midst of a 23-
game winning streak dating back to
more than two years ago. Bethpage
holds the Long Island record for
consecutive wins at 32, which they
set in 1995. During that time they
compiled a 48-game winning streak
against Nassau opponents.
Bethpage Head Coach Howie Vogts
is the all-time winningest coach in
New York State high school football
history with 318 victories. He began
the program 50 years ago.
Bethpage Quarterback Joe Secchio (#5), the hero in the
Golden Eagles Nassau championship game against Wantagh,
rolls out, eluding would-be Huntington tacklers in the Long
Island Class III Championship game.
* cKrarssBuj s? *"^~<
Running back Rich Festante's (#28) 21-yard touchdown late
in the fourth quarter sealed the championship for Bethpage.
rifes
The 2003 Long Island Conference
High School Golden Eagles.
Champion Bethpage
Photos by Terry Gilberti, Syntax

wm ^ a
$yfib 05TM9ME PUBLIC LttlRASPf
IUU 'iif/lflfril
SERVING BETHPAGE, ISLAND TREES, OLD BETHPAGE, PLAINVIEW, SEAFORD AND PLAINEDGE
VOL 41 NO. 46 December 5-11,2003 FORTY CENTS
Golden Eagles are L.I. Champs Again!
For the second consecutive year
the Bethpage High School Golden
Eagles are Long Island Class III
champions after defeating
Huntington 18-7 on a cold and
blustery Saturday afternoon at
LaValle Stadium on the campus of
Stony Brook University. The Golden
Eagles endured difficult weather
conditions and injuries to some key
players en route to their fifth Long
Island Championship in seven
appearances since the title game
began more than a decade ago.
The Golden Eagles overcame
the loss of starters Derek Ifasi and
Anthony Seiter to stave off a tough
challenge from the Huntington Blue
Devils. Huntington led off the game
with a long drive that resulted in no
points. After impressive stops on
the goal line by the Bethpage
defense, Huntington appeared to
have scored a fourth down
touchdown. But a penalty negated
the score and Huntington elected to
kick a field goal into the swirling
wind, which they missed. Bethpage
quickly seized the momentum. They
took leads of 6-0, then later 12-0,
thanks to impressive touchdown
runs by Jordan Levine. The latter
score went for 80 yards, tying a
Long Island championship record.
However, Huntington came out
in the second half much the way
they started the game off: with a
long drive toward the end zone. This
time, they would score, on a 19-yard
touchdown run by Pierre Delva,
cutting the Bethpage lead to 12-7
following the successful extra point
kick. It would be the last score for
Huntington, as the Bethpage
defense dug down deep. With time
running down in the fourth quarter
and Huntington driving toward the
Bethpage goal, the Golden Eagles'
Pete Manetta recovered a Blue
Devils' fumble, thwarting one drive.
Then, on their next possession,
pinned deep in their own zone, the
Blue Devils were stopped on a
fourth down play to give Bethpage
prime field position to put the game
away. They didn't disappoint, as
Rich Festante barreled into the end
zone on a 21-yard touchdown run to
seal the victory.
In addition to this being the
Golden Eagle's fifth Long Island
championship, the team won its
13th Nassau Class III championship
by defeating Wantagh 47-20 a week
earlier. The team has also won three
Rutgers Cup as the best team in
Nassau and 30 season or
conference titles. They compiled 10
undefeated seasons, 15 with just
one loss, and is in the midst of a 23-
game winning streak dating back to
more than two years ago. Bethpage
holds the Long Island record for
consecutive wins at 32, which they
set in 1995. During that time they
compiled a 48-game winning streak
against Nassau opponents.
Bethpage Head Coach Howie Vogts
is the all-time winningest coach in
New York State high school football
history with 318 victories. He began
the program 50 years ago.
Bethpage Quarterback Joe Secchio (#5), the hero in the
Golden Eagles Nassau championship game against Wantagh,
rolls out, eluding would-be Huntington tacklers in the Long
Island Class III Championship game.
* cKrarssBuj s? *"^~<
Running back Rich Festante's (#28) 21-yard touchdown late
in the fourth quarter sealed the championship for Bethpage.
rifes
The 2003 Long Island Conference
High School Golden Eagles.
Champion Bethpage
Photos by Terry Gilberti, Syntax